Uruguay Vs Ghana: Quarter final Brief Preview

Johannesburg: Uruguay will clash against Ghana in the quarter-finals in Johannesburg where both teams will be trying to oust each other for the spot in the semi- finals.

Though Uruguay have a rich FIFA World Cup history, they have not advanced as far as the quarter-finals since their run to the last four in 1970.
And on the other side the Black Stars are just making their second World Cup appearance and will be the first African side to reach semi-final stage if they manage to beat the Uruguayans.

The Uruguay team had struggled in the qualification process and had a slow start against the French side in the group stages but has come a long way with three consecutive wins largely thanks to their star strikers, Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez in their successful run till this stage. The duo of Suarez and Forlan has five goals between them.

The duo will be on the spotlight as Uruguay players come out on field against the Black Stars. Edinson Cavani who has been unnoticed largely due to Suarez's and Forlan's presence has played a big hand as well for the Uruguayans.

Meanwhile, defender Diego Godin could miss the quarter-final against Ghana because of a left thigh injury. He got the injury while playing against the South Koreans in the round of 16.

Ghana side lacks experience but the team has made a promising run so far.
Asamoah Gyan has scored three of the side's four goals, and despite being hampered by an ankle injury, should be crucial player for Ghana attack. Gyan guided his side to quarter finals, as Ghana became the third African country after Cameroon and Senegal to reach the last-eight stage of the competition.

Kevin-Prince Boateng who was suffering from hamstring injury is likely to win his fitness race, though the loss of starlet Andre Ayew to suspension could be painful.

Their key defender John Mensah who plays for English club Sunderland has struggled with a back problem for some time but is expected to start against the Uruguayans.

Can Ghana become the first African Nation to qualify in the semi-final stage or will it be the two-time world champions Uruguay making another leap forward for the South American nations?